Method of determining a radius of a cutting end of a tool for a turning machine

ABSTRACT

A method of determining a radius of a cutting end of a tool for a turning machine using a touch probe is provided. One of the cutting end and the touch probe is movable relative to a reference frame having a first axis and a second axis and having a reference point trackable in the reference frame. The method comprises establishing a first contact point and recording a first coordinate of the reference point on the first axis; establishing a second contact point and recording a second coordinate of the reference point on the second axis; establishing a third contact point and recording a third coordinate of the reference point on the first axis and a fourth coordinate of the reference point on the second axis upon contact; and determining a radius of the cutting end based on the first, second, third and fourth coordinates.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The application relates generally to methods of determining radii oftools, and more specifically of tools for turning machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Turning machines, such as in-turn, mill-turn, and lathes, CNC use toolsto carve channels or sections in a rotating part. The tools include acutting end which, as sharp as it may be, has a rounded portion at itstip. The positioning of the cutting end of the tool determines aposition of the channel or section to be removed. In some application,the position of the tool may be required with greater precision beforethe tool is used. In order to determine the position of the tool,probes, for example mechanical or optical, may be used.

Touch probes typically contact the tool at various locations todetermine a position of the tool's cutting end in a plane. A radius ofthe cutting end's rounded portion is based on nominal values given bythe manufacturer of the tool. The nominal values may not correspondenough to the actual radius of the cutting end which could lead toimprecise cutting.

Optical sensors such as laser beam detectors can be used to scan thecutting end of the tool in order to determine its radius. The opticalmethods are however calculation intensive, and can be sensitive to noisecoming from chips of material or thin layers of fluids.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, there is provided a method of determining a radius of acutting end of a tool for a turning machine using a touch probe, one ofthe cutting end and the touch probe being movable relative to areference frame having a first axis and a second axis, the one of theone of the cutting end and the touch probe having a reference pointtrackable in the reference frame, the method comprising: a) establishinga first contact point between the touch probe and the cutting end andrecording a first coordinate of the reference point on the first axis,the first contact point having a known coordinate on the first axis; andb) establishing a second contact point between the touch probe and thecutting end and recording a second coordinate of the reference point onthe second axis, the second contact point having a known coordinate onthe second axis; and c) establishing a third contact point between thetouch probe and the cutting end by moving an end point of the one of thecutting end and the touch probe along a predetermined direction at anangle with the first and second axes and recording a third coordinate ofthe reference point on the first axis and a fourth coordinate of thereference point on the second axis upon contact, the pre-determineddirection being dependent on the coordinate of the first contact pointon the first axis and the coordinate of the second contact point on thesecond axis, the end point being offset from the reference point by anamount deduced from the first coordinate and the second coordinaterecorded at steps a) and b); and d) determining a radius of the cuttingend based on the first, second, third and fourth coordinates.

In another aspect, there is provided a method of determining a radius ofa cutting end of a tool for a turning machine using a touch probe, oneof the cutting end and the touch probe being movable relative to areference frame having a first axis and a second axis, the one of theone of the cutting end and the touch probe having a reference pointtrackable in the reference frame, the method comprising: a) recording afirst coordinate of the reference point on the first axis uponcontacting the touch probe and the cutting end at a first contact pointhaving a known coordinate on the first axis; b) calculating a firstoffset of an end point of the one of the cutting end and the touch proberelative to the reference point on the first axis based on the firstcoordinate; c) recording a second coordinate of the reference point onthe second axis upon contacting the touch probe and the cutting end at asecond contact point having a known coordinate on the second axis; andd) calculating a second offset of the end point relative to thereference point on the second axis based on the second coordinate; e)recording a third coordinate of the reference point on the first axisand a fourth coordinate of the reference point on the second axis uponmoving an end point of the one of the cutting end and the touch probealong a predetermined direction and contacting the touch probe and thecutting end at a third contact point along the predetermined direction,the third contact point having known coordinates on the first and secondaxes, the predetermined direction being at an angle with the first andsecond axes and being determined from the coordinate of the firstcontact point on the first axis and the coordinate of the second contactpoint on the second axis, the end point calculated using the first andsecond offsets; and f) determining a radius of the cutting end based onthe first, second, third and fourth coordinates.

In yet another aspect, there is provided a turning machine comprising: atool having a cutting end; a touch probe having two flat faces and oneof a rounded and angled corner joining the two flat faces; and anelectronic control unit (ECU) controlling the one of the tool and theprobe to move in a reference frame to establish separate contactsbetween the probe and the tool at a first point on one of the two flatfaces, at a second point on the other one of the two flat faces and at athird point on the one of the rounded and angled corner, the ECU beingconfigured to record coordinates of a reference point of the one of thetool and the probe during the separate contacts so as to calculate aradius of the cutting end.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a tool for a turning machine;

FIG. 2a is a schematic top plan view of a touch probe according to afirst embodiment;

FIG. 2b is a schematic top plan view of a touch probe according to asecond embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the tool of FIG. 1 and the touch probe ofFIG. 2a shown in a first position relative to each other;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the tool of FIG. 1 and the touch probe ofFIG. 2a shown in a second position relative to each other;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the tool of FIG. 1 and the touch probe ofFIG. 2a shown in a third position relative to each other;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the tool of FIG. 1 and the touch probe ofFIG. 2a shown in a fourth position relative to each other;

FIG. 7a is a close-up view of the tool of FIG. 1 and the touch probe ofFIG. 2a shown in a fifth position relative to each other;

FIG. 7b is a close-up view of the tool of FIG. 1 and the touch probe ofFIG. 2a shown in the fourth position relative to each other shown inFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method of determining a radius of the toolof FIG. 1 using any one of the touch probes of FIG. 2a or 2 b; and

FIG. 9 is a close-up view of the tool of FIG. 1 and the touch probe ofFIG. 2a shown in a sixth position relative to each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a tool 10 for a turning machine is shown. The tool10 includes a body 12 and a cutting portion 14 for use, for example, inin-turn or mill-turn machines, the machines also being known as lathes,CNC, turning machines etc. The cutting portion 14 has a cutting end 16.The tool 10 may be used to manufacture parts, such as metalliccomponents, by carving out portions of the rotating part using the tool10. The parts may then be used in a variety of industries including theaeronautics industry. In turning machines, the parts are cylindrical,revolve about their centerline with the tool 10 abutting on theirexternal surface. The cutting end 16 of the tool 10 creates anindentation. As the tool 10 is moved deeper into the rotating part,material is removed from the part and various cut-outs and channels canbe created. A position of the cut-out is predetermined in function of adesired shape of the part, and the tool 10 is moved by the turningmachine in a precise fashion to accomplish the desired shape of thepart. This is commonly known as grooving, and other operations arepossible as well, such as facing and face grooving.

The cutting end 16 may have various shapes and be more or less sharpdepending on the desired shape of the part. Whatever the sharpness ofthe cutting end 16, it includes a rounded portion at the tip. Therounded portion may be approximated by a portion of a circle C (aclose-up view on the cutting end 16 showing the circle C is shown inFIG. 7a ). For smaller cut-outs where precision may be even moredesired, an actual radius R of the cutting end 16 may be a desirableinformation. While a radius of the cutting end 16 may be obtained from amanufacturer of the cutting portion 14 (i.e. nominal value), there maybe a discrepancy between the nominal value and the actual value of theradius R of the cutting end 16. This discrepancy may cause a discrepancybetween the desired shape of the part and the obtained shape of thepart.

In order to decrease a potential discrepancy between the nominal valueand the actual value of the radius R of the cutting end 16, the tool 10may be tested to determine the actual value of the radius R of thecutting end 16 prior to use on the part. The method by which the actualvalue of the radius R of the cutting end 16 is determined will bedescribed below. The method includes the determination of coordinates ofvarious points along the cutting end 16 using a touch probe.

Turning now to FIGS. 2a and 2b , FIG. 2a shows a first embodiment of atouch probe 22 for use in the determination of the actual value of theradius R of the cutting end 16. The touch probe 22 has a generallysquare cross-section with rounded corners and is shown in FIG. 2 in atop plan view (e.g. cubic shape, rectangular prism shape). The touchprobe 22 includes at least four flat sides, namely sides 24, 26, 28, 30and four rounded corners, namely corners 32, 34, 36, 38. The corners 32,34, 36, 38 have a same radius of curvature, but it is contemplated thatthe corners 32, 34, 36, 38 could each have a different radius ofcurvature. Typically, the touch probe 22 deflects when touching anobject. Touching one side 24, 26, 28, 30 or one corner 32, 34, 36, 38gives a signal to the machine controller to record the actual positions.The touch probe 22 is linked to an electronic control unit (ECU) (notshown) which may record information every time the touch probe 22 sendsa signal corresponding to one of the sides 24, 26, 28, 30 or corners 32,34, 36, 38 being in physical contact with an object.

The touch probe 22 includes various sides 24, 26, 28, 30 and corners 32,34, 36, 38 allowing the use of the touch probe 22 in a variety ofdirection and positions without having to greatly manipulate it, such asrotating it. With the use of the sides 24, 26, 28, 30 and corners 32,34, 36, 38, the touch probe 22 could be used in at least 8 orientationsof the tool 10 relative to the touch probe 22 in a 360° circumference.

The touch probe 22 shown in FIG. 2a is only one example of touch probeadapted for the below method of determining the radius R of the cuttingend 16. FIG. 2b shows a second embodiment of a touch probe 22′ for usein the determination of the actual value of the radius R of the cuttingend 16. The touch probe 22′ is similar to the touch probe 22 except thatit features angled corners 32′, 34′, 36′, 38′ in place of roundedcorners 32, 34, 36, 38 in between flat sides 24′, 26′, 28′, 30′. Theangled corners 32′, 34′, 36′, 38′ are disposed at 45 degrees of the flatsides 24′, 26′, 28′, 30′. Other angular orientations of the angledcorners 32′, 34′, 36′, 38′ are contemplated. It is contemplated that thetouch probe 22 could yet have other shapes. For example, the touch probe22 could have a triangular or rectangular cross-section instead of asquare cross-section. The touch probe 22 could also have only one side.

Turning to FIG. 3, the tool 10 is shown in relation with the touch probe22 for proceeding to the determination of the radius R of the cuttingend 16. The touch probe 22 is used in a turning machine (not shown) withthe tool 10 located as it would be to carve a part. It is howevercontemplated that the touch probe 22 and the tool 10 could be usedoutside of the turning machine to determine the radius R of the cuttingend 16 of the tool 10. The turning machine has a fixed reference frameRF which defines a X-axis and an in-plane Z-axis. In the embodimentdescribed in relation to the Figures, the touch probe 22 is oriented tohave its sides 24, 26, 28, 30 aligned with the X- and Z-axes of thereference frame RF. The touch probe 22 and the tool 10 may move in aplane of the X- and Z-axes relative to one another.

The touch probe 22 allows determining coordinates of several points P₁,P₂, P₃ of the cutting end 16 (shown best in FIG. 7a ) relative to areference point P₀ of the tool 10 to later calculate the radius R of thecutting end 16. In the embodiment described herein, the reference pointP₀ is a fixed point of the tool 10 and is movable within the referenceframe RF. An ECU (which may or may not be a same ECU as the one linkedto the touch probe 22) records the position of the reference point P₀ atall times t: (P₀ ^(t)(X),P₀ ^(t)(Z)). From the position of the referencepoint P₀ at all times and coordinates of the touch probe 22 which may beknown from calibration, can be deduced the coordinates of the points P₁,P₂, P₃ of the cutting end 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the tool 10 may use 3different paths, namely path 1, path 2, path 3, to contact the touchprobe 22 at three associated locations, in this embodiment sides 24, 26and corner 32.

An out-of-plane Y-axis may also be defined, the X,Y,Z-axes formingtogether an orthogonal reference frame. The tool 10 has a referencepoint P₀ which allows determining a position of the tool 10 in thereference frame RF. In the example described herein, the touch probe 22is fixed relative to the reference frame RF, while the tool 10 ismovable relative to the reference frame RF. It is contemplated that thetool 10 could be fixed relative to the reference frame RF, while thetouch probe 10 could be movable relative to the reference frame RF.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 to 8, a method 40 of determining the radius R ofthe cutting end 16 will be described. FIGS. 4 to 7 b show differentpositions of the tool 10 relative to the touch probe 22, and FIG. 8 is aflow chart with the different steps of the method 40.

The method 40 starts at step 42 by a contact between the tool 10 and thetouch probe 22 at a first point P₂₄ having a known position on theX-axis and recording a coordinate of the reference point P₀ of the toolon the X-axis (FIG. 4).

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 3 and 4, a numerical command movesthe tool 10 along the path 1 based on information obtained duringcalibration. Calibration information include a position of the side 24in the reference frame RF on the X-axis, X₂₄. Motion of the tool 10stops when the tool 10 contacts the side 24 of the touch probe 22. Asthe point P₁ of the cutting end 16 contacts the touch probe 22 (timet=t1) at point P₂₄, the touch probe 22 triggers an electrical signalwhich commands the tool 10 to stop its course. Coordinates of thereference point P₀ are then read and the X-coordinate of the referencepoint P₀, P₀ ^(t=t1)(X) is recorded by the ECU. The side 24 beingaligned with the Z-axis, any point of the side 24 has a sameX-coordinate X₂₄. Although the cutting end 16 is shown in FIG. 4contacting a middle of the side 24 (i.e. point P₂₄), it should beunderstood that the cutting end 16 may contact any point along the side24. It is also contemplated that the side 28 could have been used inplace of the side 24 of the touch probe 22.

From the determination of P₀ ^(t=t1)(X), various values can be obtained.These values may be obtained by the ECU at step 42 or at a later step.

At time t=t1, the X-coordinate of the point P₁, P₁ ^(t=t1)(X) is equalto the X-coordinate X₂₄ of the point P₂₄.

From P₀ ^(t=t1)(X) and P₁ ^(t=t1)(X) can be deduced a position of thefirst point P₁ relative to the reference point P₀, i.e. an offsetOff_(X) of the cutting end 16 on the X-axis.Off_(X) =P ₁ ^(t=t1)(X)−P ₀ ^(t=t1)(X)  (Eq. 1)

Since, at time t=t1, P₁ ^(t=t1)(X) is equal to X₂₄,Off_(X) =X ₂₄ −P ₀ ^(t=t1)(X)  (Eq. 2)

The offset Off_(X) may be used to deduce the radius R of the cutting end16 in a below step.

The offset Off_(X) being known, the X-coordinate of the first point P₁can be known at all times.P ₁ ^(t)(X)=P ₀ ^(t)(X)+Off_(X)  (Eq. 3)

When the value of P₀ ^(t=t1)(X) is recorded and optionally the value ofthe offset Off_(X) obtained at this step, the touch probe 22 is movedback to its original position shown in FIG. 3 so as to undo the contactbetween the touch probe 22 and the tool 10.

From step 42, the method 40 goes to step 44, to contact the touch probe22 at a second point P₂₆ having a known position on the Z-axis andrecording a coordinate of the reference point P₀ of the tool on theZ-axis.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 5, a numerical command moves thetool 10 along the path 2 based on information obtained duringcalibration. Calibration information include a position of the side 26in the reference frame RF, Z₂₆. Motion of the tool 10 stops when thetool 10 contacts the side 26 of the touch probe 22. As the point P₂ ofthe cutting end 16 contacts the point P₂₆ of the touch probe 22 (timet=t2), the touch probe 22 triggers an electrical signal which commandsthe tool 10 to stop its course. Coordinates of the reference point P₀are read and the Z-coordinate of reference point P₀, P₀ ^(t=t2)(Z), isrecorded by the ECU. The side 26 being aligned with the X-axis, anypoint of the side 26 has a same Z-coordinate Z₂₆. Although the cuttingend 16 is shown in FIG. 5 contacting a middle of the side 26 (i.e. pointP₂₆), it should be understood that the cutting end 16 may contact anypoint along the side 26. It is also contemplated that the side 30 couldhave been used in place of the side 26 of the touch probe 22.

From the determination of P₀ ^(t=t2)(Z), various values can be obtained.These values may be obtained by the ECU at step 44 orate later step.

At time t=t2, the Z-coordinate of the point P₂, P₂ ^(t=t2)(Z) is equalto the Z-coordinate Z₂₆ of the point P₂₆.

From P₀ ^(t=t2)(Z) and P₂ ^(t=t2)(Z) can be deduced a position of thepoint P₂ relative to the reference point P₀, i.e. an offset Off_(Z) ofthe cutting end 16 on the Z-axis.Off_(Z)=P ₂ ^(t=t2)(Z)−P ₀ ^(t=t2)(Z)  (Eq. 4)

Since, at time t=t2, P₂ ^(t=t2)(Z) is equal to Z₂₆,Off_(Z) =Z ₂₆ −P ₀ ^(t=t2)(Z)  (Eq. 5)

The offset Off_(Z) may be used to deduce the radius R of the cutting end16 in a below step.

The offset Off_(Z) being known, the Z-coordinate of the point P₂ can beknown at all times.

When the value of P₀ ^(t=t2)(Z) is recorded and optionally the value ofthe offset Off_(Z) obtained at this step, the touch probe 22 is movedback to its original position shown in FIG. 3 so as to undo the contactbetween the touch probe 22 and the tool 10.

Steps 42 and 44 could be performed in any order, and by a same probe ortwo distinct probes.

From step 44, the method 40 goes to step 46, to contact the touch probe22 at a third point P₃₂ having a known position on the X- and Z-axes andrecord a coordinate of the reference point P₀ of the tool on the X- andZ-axes. The point P₃₂ is not aligned with the sides 24 or 26, and assuch has a X-coordinate different from the X-coordinate of the pointP₂₄, and a Z-coordinate different from the Z-coordinate of the pointP₂₆.

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 6, 7 a and 7 b, a numerical commandmoves the tool 10 along the path 3 based on information obtained duringcalibration and information obtained at steps 42 and 44. Calibrationinformation includes a position of the point P₃₂, namely X₃₂, Z₃₂, inthe reference frame RF and the numerical command moves the tool 10 tocontact specifically the point P₃₂. The point P₃₂ is in a predetermineddirection PD which is in-plane with the X- and Z-axes and at an angle αwith respect to the X- and Z-axes. The angle α is determined atcalibration. In one embodiment, the angle α is 45 degrees. Informationobtained at steps 42 and 44 include Off_(X) and Off_(Z) which allowdeducing the coordinates of a virtual cutting end point P_(CE), definedas the intersection of a line parallel to the X-axis passing through P₂and a line parallel to the Z-axis passing through P₃. The numericalcommand includes travelling the point P_(CE) onto the predetermineddirection PD.

Motion of the tool 10 stops when the point P₃ of the cutting end 16contacts the point P₃₂ of the touch probe 22. As the tool 10 contactsthe touch probe 22 at time t=t3, the touch probe 22 trigger andelectrical signal which commands the tool 10 to stop its course.Coordinates of the reference point P₀ are read and the X- andZ-coordinates of the reference point P₀ ^(t=t3)(X), P₀ ^(t=t3)(Z) andrecorded by the ECU. It is contemplated that the corners 34, 38 or 38could have been alternatively used.

The coordinates of the reference point P₀ ^(t=t3)(X), P₀ ^(t=t3)(Z) maybe used to deduce the radius R of the cutting end 16 in a below step.

From step 46, the method 40 goes to step 48, to determine the radius Rof the cutting end 16 by the ECU.

As best seen in FIG. 7b , when the cutting end 16 contacts the corner 32at the point P₃₂, the radius R may be obtained by:R=d(1+√{square root over (2)})  (Eq. 6)

when the angle α is 45°, d being a distance between third point P₃₂ andthe virtual cutting end point P_(CE). The virtual cutting end pointP_(CE) is defined as the intersection between a line parallel to theX-axis passing through the point P₂ with a line parallel to the Z-axispassing through the point P₁.

$\begin{matrix}{d = \sqrt{\left( {{P_{CE}^{t = {t\; 3}}(X)} - X_{32}} \right)^{2} + \left( {{P_{CE}^{t = {t\; 3}}(Z)} - Z_{32}} \right)^{2}}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 7} \right)\end{matrix}$

The cutting end point P_(CE) has a same X-coordinate as the first pointP₁ and a same Z-coordinate as the second point P₂:P _(CE) ^(t=t3)(X)=P ₁ ^(t=t3)(X)=P ₀ ^(t=t3)(X)+Off_(X)P _(CE) ^(t=t3)(Z)=P ₂ ^(t=t3)(Z)=P ₀ ^(t=t3)(Z)+Off_(Z)  (Eq. 8)

Which leads to:

$\begin{matrix}{d = \sqrt{\left( {{P_{0}^{t = {t\; 3}}(X)} + {Off}_{X} - X_{32}} \right)^{2} + \left( {{P_{0}^{t = {t\; 3}}(Z)} + {Off}_{Z} - Z_{32}} \right)^{2}}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 9} \right)\end{matrix}$

From which the radius R is deduced as:

$\begin{matrix}{R = {\sqrt{\left( {{P_{0}^{t = {t\; 3}}(X)} + {Off}_{X} - X_{32}} \right)^{2} + \left( {{P_{0}^{t = {t\; 3}}(Z)} + {Off}_{Z} - Z_{32}} \right)^{2}}\left( {1 + \sqrt{2}} \right)}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 10} \right)\end{matrix}$

when the angle α is 45°. Determination of the radius R when the angle αis not 45° will be given below.

Step 46 could be performed by the same probe as steps 42 and/or 44 or bya distinct probe.

The above method relies on the knowledge of the parameters X₂₄, Z₂₆,X₃₂, Z₃₂, which may be determined during a calibration step prior to themethod 40.

During calibration, a calibration tool having known dimensions is used.The calibration tool may or may not be similar to the tool 10. Thecalibration tool has the reference point P₀ which coordinates in thereference frame RF are recorded at all time. The cutting end of thecalibration tool is brought into contact with the side 24, theX-coordinate of the reference point P₀ is recorded, and the X-coordinateX₂₄ is determined to be the sum of the X-coordinate of the referencepoint P₀ and a known distance between a point of the cutting endcontacting the side 24 and the reference point P₀. Similarly, thecutting end of the calibration tool is brought in a second time intocontact with the side 26, the Z-coordinate of the reference point P₀ isrecorded, and the Z-coordinate Z₂₆ is determined to be the sum of theZ-coordinate of the reference point P₀ and a known distance between apoint of the cutting end contacting the side 26 and the reference pointP₀.

To calibrate the corner 32 and determine the parameters X₃₂, Z₃₂, thepredetermined direction PD is first determined. In one embodiment, thepredetermined direction PD is disposed at 45° from the X- and Z-axes. Inother embodiment, the predetermined direction PD is disposed at an angleother than 45° from the X- and Z-axes.

With reference to FIG. 9, should the predetermined direction PD not beat 45°, the calibration process would define the radius PR of the arc Aformed by the probe corner 32, 34, 36, 38 and the center coordinates PCof the arc A. The position of the contact point P₃₂ on the touch probe20 may change according to the approach direction and the tool radiussize. It may be identified by the calibration as for the case of 45°.When the tool touches the probe, the coordinate of PCE in X and Zdirections are recorded. With reference to FIG. 9

${\begin{pmatrix}d_{z} \\d_{x}\end{pmatrix} = {{PCE} - {PC}}},$d_(z)=PCE_(z)−PC_(z), and d_(x)=PCE_(x)−PC_(x). The angular position ofthe contact point on the probe arc A depends on the tool radius size.From the geometry, when the probe is in contact with the cutting tool:(PR+R)²=(R+d _(z))²+(R+d _(x))²  (Eq. 11)

The unknown parameter in this equation is the tool radius R. Thesolution of this equation gives TR as:

$\begin{matrix}{R = {\left( {{PR} - d_{z} - d_{x}} \right) + \sqrt{\left( {{PR} - d_{x} - d_{z}} \right)^{2} + {PR}^{2} - d_{x}^{2} - d_{z}^{2}}}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 12} \right)\end{matrix}$

In the case of angle=45°, as discussed above, geometrically we have:(R+d)²=(R)²+(R)²  (Eq. 13).

The solution of this equation gives TR as:R=d(1+√{square root over (2)}) where

$d = \sqrt{\left( {{P_{0}^{t = {t\; 3}}(X)} + {Off}_{X} - X_{32}} \right)^{2} + \left( {{P_{0}^{t = {t\; 3}}(Z)} + {Off}_{Z} - Z_{32}} \right)^{2}}$as discussed above.

Using the above method, relatively small radii R of the cutting end 16such as the one commonly found in in-turn and mill-turn applications,can be determined. In one embodiment, the radius R is smaller than 0.1inch. In one embodiment, the radius R is comprised between 0.01 and 0.1inch. The above method may be carried within the turning machine whichreduces a number of steps to determine the radius R. The relativelynon-invasive method described above also allows determining the radiusat any time before a turning operation without removing the tool 10 fromthe machine.

The above description is meant to be exemplary only, and one skilled inthe art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodimentsdescribed without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed.For example, the method could be used for tool not related to turningmachines. The method could be used with any tool having an arcuateportion, and could preferably be used with tools of relatively smallradii. Still other modifications which fall within the scope of thepresent invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in lightof a review of this disclosure, and such modifications are intended tofall within the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of determining with at least oneelectronic control unit a radius of a cutting end of a tool for aturning machine using a touch probe, one of the cutting end and thetouch probe being movable as controlled by the at least one electroniccontrol unit relative to a reference frame having a first axis and asecond axis and having a reference point trackable in the referenceframe of the at least one electronic control unit, the methodcomprising: a) establishing, using the at least one electronic controlunit, a first contact point between the touch probe and the cutting endand recording, using the at least one electronic control unit, a firstcoordinate of the reference point on the first axis, the first contactpoint having a known coordinate on the first axis; and b) establishing,using the at least one electronic control unit, a second contact pointbetween the touch probe and the cutting end and recording, using the atleast one electronic control unit, a second coordinate of the referencepoint on the second axis, the second contact point having a knowncoordinate on the second axis; and c) establishing, using the at leastone electronic control unit, a third contact point between the touchprobe and the cutting end by moving an end point of the one of thecutting end and the touch probe along a predetermined direction at anangle with the first and second axes as controlled by the at least oneelectronic control unit and recording, using the at least one electroniccontrol unit, a third coordinate of the reference point on the firstaxis and a fourth coordinate of the reference point on the second axisupon contact, the pre-determined direction being dependent on thecoordinate of the first contact point on the first axis and thecoordinate of the second contact point on the second axis, the end pointbeing offset from the reference point by an amount deduced from thefirst coordinate and the second coordinate recorded at steps a) and b);and d) determining, using the at least one electronic control unit, aradius of the cutting end based on the first, second, third and fourthcoordinates.
 2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein steps a), b)and c) are performed within the turning machine.
 3. The method asdefined in claim 1, wherein steps a) and b) are performed in any order.4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of steps a),b) and c) is performed using a different touch probe.
 5. The method asdefined in claim 1, wherein the probe is fixed relative to the referenceframe and the cutting end is movable relative to the reference frame. 6.The method as defined in claim 1, wherein determining the radius R ofthe tool comprises determining a radius R smaller than 0.1 inch.
 7. Themethod as defined in claim 1, wherein determining the radius R of thetool comprises determining a radius R between 0.01 and 0.1 inch.
 8. Themethod as defined in claim 1, wherein the predetermined direction is at45degrees from the first and second axes.
 9. The method as defined inclaim 1, wherein the first axis is an X-axis and the second axis is aZ-axis; the predetermined direction is at an angle a from the X-axis andthe Z-axis; the reference point is P₀; the known position of the firstpoint of the one of the cutting edge and the touch probe on the X-axisis X₂₄; step a) is performed at time t =t1; the first coordinate is P₀^(t=t1)(X); the known position of the second point of the one of thecutting edge and the touch probe on the Z-axis is Z₂₆; step b) isperformed at time t=t2; the second coordinate is P₀ ^(t=t2)(Z); theknown position of the third point of the one of the cutting edge and thetouch probe on the X-axis is Z₃₂; step c) is performed at time t=t3; thethird coordinate is P₀ ^(t=t3)(X); the known position of the third pointof the one of the cutting edge and the touch probe on the Z-axis is Z₃₂;the fourth coordinate is P₀ ^(t=t3)(Z); and the radius R is$R = {\left( {1 + \sqrt{2}} \right)\sqrt{\begin{matrix}{\left( {{P_{0}^{t = {t\; 3}}(X)} - {P_{0}^{t = {t\; 1}}(X)} + X_{24} - X_{32}} \right)^{2} +} \\\left( {{P_{0}^{t = {t\; 3}}(Z)} - {P_{0}^{t = {t\; 2}}(X)} + Z_{26} - Z_{32}} \right)^{2}\end{matrix}}}$ when the angle α is 45°.
 10. The method as defined inclaim 1, wherein establishing the first contact point comprisescontacting the touch probe on a first flat side, the first flat sidebeing parallel to the second axis; establishing the second contact pointcomprises contacting the touch probe on a second flat side, the secondflat side being parallel to the first axis; and establishing the thirdcontact point comprises contacting the touch probe on one of a roundedcorner and an angled corner joining the first flat side and the secondflat side.
 11. A method of determining with at least one electroniccontrol unit a radius of a cutting end of a tool for a turning machineusing a touch probe, one of the cutting end and the touch probe beingmovable as controlled by the at least one electronic control unitrelative to a reference frame having a first axis and a second axis andhaving a reference point trackable in the reference frame of the atleast one electronic control unit, the method comprising: a) recording,using the at least one electronic control unit, a first coordinate ofthe reference point on the first axis upon contacting the touch probeand the cutting end at a first contact point having a known coordinateon the first axis; b) calculating, using the at least one electroniccontrol unit, a first offset of an end point of the one of the cuttingend and the touch probe relative to the reference point on the firstaxis based on the first coordinate; c) recording, using the at least oneelectronic control unit, a second coordinate of the reference point onthe second axis upon contacting the touch probe and the cutting end at asecond contact point having a known coordinate on the second axis; andd) calculating, using the at least one electronic control unit, a secondoffset of the end point relative to the reference point on the secondaxis based on the second coordinate; e) recording, using the at leastone electronic control unit, a third coordinate of the reference pointon the first axis and a fourth coordinate of the reference point on thesecond axis upon moving an end point of the one of the cutting end andthe touch probe along a predetermined direction as controlled by the atleast one electronic control unit and contacting the touch probe and thecutting end at a third contact point along the predetermined direction,the third contact point having known coordinates on the first and secondaxes, the predetermined direction being at an angle with the first andsecond axes and being determined from the coordinate of the firstcontact point on the first axis and the coordinate of the second contactpoint on the second axis, the end point calculated using the first andsecond offsets; and f) determining, using the at least one electroniccontrol unit, a radius of the cutting end based on the first, second,third and fourth coordinates.
 12. The method as defined in claim 11,wherein step b) is performed at any time between steps a) and e).
 13. Aturning machine comprising: a tool having a cutting end; a touch probehaving two flat faces and one of a rounded and angled corner joining thetwo flat faces; and an electronic control unit (ECU) controlling atleast one of the tool and the probe to move in a reference frame toestablish separate contacts between the probe and the tool at a firstpoint on one of the two flat faces, at a second point on the other oneof the two flat faces and at a third point on the one of the rounded andangled corner, the ECU being configured to record coordinates of areference point of the tool or the probe during the separate contacts soas to calculate a radius of the cutting end.
 14. The turning machine asdefined in claim 13, wherein the touch probe is fixed and the ECUcontrols the tool to move in the reference frame.